Antonis Kouvas
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Antonis Kouvas, nicknamed The Bull, first came to the public attention when he played in the 20th Under-21 World Cup. Starblaydia conceded just three goals in the tournament and had 3-1, 4-1, 7-0 and 3-0 victories before a strongly defensive Hockey Canadian side dumped them out of the tournament by a 1-0 scoreline in the Quarter-Finals. Antonis' style as a seventeen year-old, especially when paired with the silkier skills of Alberto Belmozzi at Centre-Back, was compared to that of a "bull in a china shop" and his nickname was born.
Though not selected for the following World Cup, a twenty-two year-old Antonis was paired with the skillful veteran, World Cup winner and Golden Generation memberRaymundo Hernandez for AOCAF12. This proved an excellent combination and Starblaydia were placed third, their only loss being a heartbreaking Extra-Time goal to Sarzonia in the Semi-Final stage. Antonis scored two goals along the way, against Hypocria and Nojika.
He was rewarded four years later in World Cup 27 with a centre-back partnership with World Cup Winner Jaime Oberlander. Twenty-one matches later, and with one of the seven goals against Shing-Shang to his name, Starblaydia placed third in the world, despite being ranked only eighth. Four years later they went even better, as again with a skilful centre-back in Juan Valdez, Starblaydia went all the way to the Final - and won it. Vuam and Isma were on the end of a Kouvas goal along the way, and a thirty year-old Kouvas lifted the World Cup trophy to the adulation of billions.
Four years later another bronze medal in the AOCAF came a-calling, as Starblaydia shut out Krytenia 3-0 in the Third-Place match. Kouvas is perhaps the mould for future Starblaydi defending stoppers: big and powerful throughout his career, and ever-willing to put his body on the line for the good of the team.
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Starblaydia squad - World Cup 27 Third-Placed Side |
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1 Mathias | 2 Ibanez | 3 Rakkinen | 4 Blanc | 5 Oberlander | 6 Kouvas | 7 Noble | 8 Menecrates (c) | 9 Raphaelo | 10 Tolkacheva | 11 Chavez | 12 Bedford | 13 Almeida | 14 Belmozzi | 15 Ernesto | 16 J. Matranga | 17 C. Garcia | 18 Vega | 19 Maestas | 20 Valdez | 21 Rujano | 22 Rage | 23 Von Erich | Coach: Azanulbizarn | ||
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Starblaydia squad - World Cup 28 Champions |
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1 Bedford | 2 Almeida | 3 Rakkinen | 4 Blanc (c) | 5 Valdez | 6 Kouvas | 7 Noble | 8 Rage | 9 Keifner | 10 Tolkacheva | 11 Chavez | 12 Kyrile | 13 Drazarim | 14 Costa | 15 Rujano | 16 Kaminsky | 17 Von Erich | 18 Rocca | 19 Grimzabar | 20 Oberlander | 21 Cortez | 22 Zinaldi | 23 Ajaccio | Coach: Azanulbizarn | ||
